Statement on Civility and Public Debates

“Always establish common ground.” That was the motto of long-time Penn State debate coach, Joseph F. O’Brien. That no matter your disagreement on the issues, you always find an opening, a common place with your opponent.

“Always establish common ground.” That was the motto of long-time Penn State debate coach, Joseph F. O’Brien. That no matter your disagreement on the issues, you always find an opening, a common place with your opponent. That requires respecting your opponent and not belittling them for their race, gender, sexuality, nationality, or disability. This has been true for the entire one hundred eighteen year history of the Penn State Speech & Debate Society. It was true in 1916 when Penn State formed its women’s debate team. It was true in 1927 when Penn State debated Lincoln University and Thurgood Marshall for the first interracial debate in the country. And it is true in 2016.

Over the past few years, the Penn State Speech & Debate Society has hosted a number of events centered on controversial topics from campus issues such as addressing sexual violence and whether THON culture is pernicious, to state issues such as the benefits and harms of fracking and nuclear energy, to national issues such as gun control, Iran sanctions, and raising the minimum wage. In all of these events, the debates stay focused on the issues. The students established common ground with one another. We sought to achieve our goal of providing an environment for intelligent and open debate, and we did.

It is for these reasons that we have decided not to host and moderate a debate between the Students for Clinton and Students for Trump, originally scheduled for Tuesday, September 27th. Based on the recent leaking of internal conversations amongst Students for Trump members and the refusal for the group to issue a statement denouncing those conversations, we do not believe moderating a debate between these two organizations will establish common ground nor provide an environment for intelligent and open debate. That debate will continue without our involvement. While these students may have the freedom of speech to make these statements, our organization also has the freedom not to provide a forum for them to make those statements. These comments, which are misogynistic, racist, and homophobic, are counter to the values we hold as an organization.